Inspire Awards

December 14th, at the Courtyard Marriot in Toronto, the first Inspire Awards Presents a Lifetime of Achievement evening took place honouring three outstanding people in the LGBTQ community in the greater Toronto area.

Photograph: Etobicoke School for the Arts performers by On Q Photography for INSPIRE AWARDS.

I was very proud to have PositiveLite.com as a partner in the first Inspire Awards night back in the summer just before pride. With the popularity of the first awardsnight came the idea of honoring lifetime achievement.

One of this year's recipients was Boyd Kodak who has accomplished so much, not just in his work on trans and human rights issues, but also in the arts, film and performance. (Bob Leahy previously interviewed him for PositiveLite.com, and you can find that feature here.)

The second to be honoured, and in no order of ranking, was Michelle DuBarry, who has been doing drag since the days when it was illegal. In a documentary about the St. Charles Tavern, a local gay hangout in the early years, Michelle recounted how those entering on Halloween were pelted with eggs.

Jack Layton posthumously received the "honorary" lifetime achievement award, accepted by his two children Mike and Sarah. Jack Layton had been an early champion of same-sex marriage and equality stemming from his days as a Toronto City councillor. He was one of the first politicians to attend Pride and was a regular at that event.

A highlight of the evening was host extraordinaire Mike Chalut of Proud FM, who kept the night moving along nicely, despite the odd technical difficulties.

Sofonda Cox paid tribute to Michelle DuBarry with her hot back-up dancers. Carrie Chesnut and Boyd Kodak performed an original composition.

Other highlights were the acceptance speeches, all of which could bring even the most stone-hearted of us to a place of mushy eyes. It was a night that was indeed quite special.

Kudos go to Antoine Elhashem, chair of the not-for-profit Inspired Awards Inc. board and all of those who worked hard to pull of a fun, classy and at times emotional night. It was a huge team effort. Also a big thank you to Xtra for featuring – on their cover – the event, and to all those who worked so hard.

If there is one thing to say it's that the Inspire Awards crew know how to pull off a great event.

The following are two moments with Mike Layton, and Michelle DuBarry, filmed on the night of the awards show.

Arts and Entertainment Section

We asked newly diagnosed Peterborough, Ontario man Robert W. Olver to review some of the movies which reflect our history. In the first of a series, he looks at Zero Patience, a remarkable made-in-Canada AIDS musical from 1993

Activism Section

Bob Leahy in Vancouver interviews two Canadian people living with HIV from each side of the continent about what it’s like to attend a big international conference like AIDS 2015, about CPPN – and about understanding what’s going on

Bob Leahy reports on the Canadian Declaration by Persons Living with HIV that calls for the protection of human rights in light of biomedical advances in HIV Treatment but in a progressive way supportive of 90-9-90 and expanded treatment access

Events Section

Bob Leahy in Vancouver interviews two Canadian people living with HIV from each side of the continent about what it’s like to attend a big international conference like AIDS 2015, about CPPN – and about understanding what’s going on

Bob Leahy reports on the Canadian Declaration by Persons Living with HIV that calls for the protection of human rights in light of biomedical advances in HIV Treatment but in a progressive way supportive of 90-9-90 and expanded treatment access

Features and Interviews Section

From IAS 2015 Bob Leahy speaks (again) with BC’s Dr. Julio Montaner, the world’s leading treatment as prevention advocate, about 90-90-90, his frustrations with uptake in Canada – and meeting the Pope.

Bob Leahy talks to UK writer Paul Thorn about his new book which explains how a harmonious and happy co-existence with HIV is possible and how to make the most of the second chance that treatment affords you

Bob Leahy talks to Preston Leon, a 16-year old man from central British Columbia diagnosed with HIV a year ago, about what it’s like to find out you are HIV-positive when you are a teenager in a small rural community where HIV isn’t talked about

Still dealing with the aftermath of a relationship that went bad, Toronto's Josh says “I feel like there’s still a lot of work to do on my mental health. And I’m open about that, and am taking the steps I need to take to do that.”

Bob Leahy reports on the Canadian Declaration by Persons Living with HIV that calls for the protection of human rights in light of biomedical advances in HIV Treatment but in a progressive way supportive of 90-9-90 and expanded treatment access

Bob Leahy in Vancouver interviews two Canadian people living with HIV from each side of the continent about what it’s like to attend a big international conference like AIDS 2015, about CPPN – and about understanding what’s going on

Bob Leahy reports on the Canadian Declaration by Persons Living with HIV that calls for the protection of human rights in light of biomedical advances in HIV Treatment but in a progressive way supportive of 90-9-90 and expanded treatment access

Legal Section

In Vancouver for IAS 2015, Bob Leahy visits Insite, the supervised injection facility in the downtown east side, where every day 800+ people with addictions and multiple other issues inject drugs in a safe, clean environment that also gives them a hand up

Still dealing with the aftermath of a relationship that went bad, Toronto's Josh says “I feel like there’s still a lot of work to do on my mental health. And I’m open about that, and am taking the steps I need to take to do that.”

Media Section

No real winners. Bob Leahy on online arguments – like a recent one he got into on the integration of HIV and HepC. How they happen, why they happen and why he tries to stay clear of them, in 140 characters or less

Says FS Magazine’s CEO “Avoiding sex or a relationship with someone just because they’re living with HIV isn’t a good strategy: it won’t prevent you from becoming HIV-positive . . and it contributes to an unacceptable caste system.”